NEIL LENNON and Ryan Christie have been speaking about this afternoon’s trip to Tayside to play Dundee Utd and the midfielder noted that he’s not played at Tannadice since back in his Inverness Caley Thistle days. The Celtic manager clearly believes that the Scottish Premiership is enhanced by the return of today’s opponents who were stuck in the Championship for too long and after a few play-off heart-aches they finally managed to win the league last season – only for Hearts and Partick Thistle to drag them through the courts after their respective relegations.
We’ve had some brilliant nights at Tannadice over the years including this one…
Tannadice tomorrow. One of the best away trips in the calendar. This game for Tommy is never far from the memory. God Bless TB 🍀 pic.twitter.com/WtXMXsE2I9
— Brother Celtic (New Account) (@Brother_Celtic) August 21, 2020
Speaking at the Celtic pre-match media conference yesterday Neil Lennon was full of praise for the Premiership newcomers.
“Dundee United have made a pretty impressive start,” the Celtic manager noted. “They’ve not won at home, but they’ve had two very good away wins and there’s an energy about them. They’ll be a good addition to the division, no question. They’ve got a good stadium, a good playing surface and they try to play.
“Micky (Mellon) has come in and it seems to have been a seamless takeover. I played against him when I was at Crewe and he was at Blackpool on a number of occasions.
“Blackpool, one season, won promotion when big Sam Allardyce was the manager. He’s had a very good career in management. He did a great job at Fleetwood, Shrewsbury and Tranmere. Dundee United are a big club with a great history. Tannadice is a great stadium and we’re very much looking forward to the freshness. Different opposition and a different style of play.”
You can watch the Celtic manager’s media conference from yesterday below…
And Christie’s admission that he’s not played against Dundee Utd since his Inverness days gives us an idea of just how long that one of Scotland’s top clubs have been outside the top division.
“I’ve not played against Dundee United since I was at Inverness,” said Christie told this week’s Celtic View. “It’s nice to see them back, I’ve always enjoyed playing at Tannadice, it’s quite a cool wee stadium.
“Dundee United have got a good side and they’ll be coming up with a bit of a point to prove. I don’t think they’ll go straight back down, in a relegation battle or anything like that, I think they’re a good side and they’ll be fighting like everyone else for their place in the league.
“When that game rolls around, we’ll have to be ready for it. Domestically, we’re looking forward to getting back to winning ways as soon as we can.”
Meanwhile sports journalist Jim Spence, who lost his long term gig at the BBC for telling the truth about what liquidation means back in 2012, has been writing about today’s game in the Courier and his column is highly recommended.
NIALL J previewed the Dundee Utd threat to Celtic on The Celtic Star yesterday…SEE HERE.
Read this…JIM SPENCE: A visit from Scotland’s most successful club is a special occasion and a very severe test of Dundee United’s credentials…the odds heavily favour Celtic
JIM SPENCE: A visit from Scotland’s most successful club is a special occasion and a very severe test of Dundee United’s credentials…the odds heavily favour Celtic https://t.co/03YamcszTD pic.twitter.com/t9zYqkzmNE
— The Courier (@thecouriersport) August 21, 2020
Enjoyed this.Introducing The Black School Jumper Song…
@Thebig10ison@TamsellicsonIII @paulthetim
The Black School Jumper pic.twitter.com/LCeehtgHBd— Nially Bhoy (@NorthStandNiall) August 21, 2020
